Hurricane and storm preparation for pet owners

Quick answer: Before the season: pack a pet go-bag, research pet-friendly lodging along evacuation routes, confirm microchip registry and current ID tag, schedule a pre-season vet visit. During a watch: car packed, route chosen, fuel topped. During a warning: leave when recommended, not when mandatory. Never leave the pet behind.

Hurricanes are predictable in a way most disasters are not — you usually have 3-5 days of warning. That window is enough to fix every preventable problem if you have a plan. The 2006 PETS Act requires state and local emergency plans to include pets, but the heavy lifting is still yours.

Pre-season (before any storm)

• Pack a pet go-bag — see pet emergency go-bag essentials.
• Research pet-friendly hotels along your likely evacuation routes — save phone numbers and addresses to your phone.
• Confirm microchip registry has current contact info.
• Confirm collar ID tag is current and legible.
• Schedule a pre-season vet visit if your pet is on medications — refill a month early.
• Make sure your pet’s rabies certificate is recent — many shelters require it for intake.
• Take a current photo of each pet on your phone, ideally in front of a plain background.
• Identify a designated “pet caregiver” out of state who could take your pet temporarily if you cannot.

During a watch (3-5 days out)

• Top off the car’s fuel.
• Refresh pet medications and food stock.
• Decide your evacuation route and primary destination.
• Call the destination hotel to confirm pet policy and availability.
• Pack the car loosely so you can finish loading in 10 minutes.
• Place the go-bag, carrier, leashes, and a small bag of treats by the door.

During a warning (24-48 hours out)

• Evacuate as soon as authorities recommend — not when mandatory.
• Pets in carriers, secured with seatbelts in the back seat.
• Bring more water than you think you need.
• Plan rest stops where pets can safely stretch — never let cats out of carriers in unfamiliar surroundings.
• Communicate your destination to family and your designated caregiver.

If you cannot evacuate

• Bring all pets indoors. Never tether outside.
• Move to an interior room without windows.
• Keep carriers nearby in case you need to move quickly.
• Have leashes and harnesses on standby for dogs.
• Keep ID on every pet, even indoor cats.
• Identify a higher floor in case of flooding.

After the storm

• Walk pets on leash, even in the yard — debris, downed power lines, and unfamiliar smells make even calm dogs unpredictable.
• Check the yard for hazards: broken glass, sharp metal, standing water with chemicals, downed branches.
• Be alert for displaced wildlife.
• If your pet seems disoriented or stressed, a vet visit is reasonable.
• If your pet escaped during the storm, contact local shelters immediately and post on neighborhood groups. See lost pet: what to do in the first 24 hours.

Where Driyu fits, honestly

Driyu cannot stop a storm. It can keep your records, photo, contacts, and emergency phones in one place you can reach without internet during evacuation. The QR tag on the collar is the layer that closes the loop if your pet panics through a broken window or open door during the storm. For the broader evacuation framework, see pet evacuation: a calm plan for wildfires, hurricanes, and floods.